Taking a short cut to the GWB? Not today, unless you live or work in this town

Drivers who cut through the side streets in Leonia every day to get to the George Washington Bridge might have been met with a surprise during Monday morning's commute -- signs and police officers telling them they soon won't be allowed to cut through the town.

The small Bergen County boroughkicked off its new traffic initiative Monday, banning non-resident drivers from about 60 town-owned streets during morning and evening rush hour times. After a brief grace period, local officials said they plan to soon start doling out $200 tickets to drivers who are no longer permitted on the town's roads.

Beginning Monday, the town's new rule is in place -- dozens of signs around Leonia say so. But, commuters will have two weeks before they might face forking over their Benjamins for driving on the roads. Leonia Mayor Judah Zeigler said officers are using the time to educate drivers on the new law change, and will only give verbal warnings to people who improperly drive on the roads during the rule's first two weeks.

Morning commuters were greeted by signs broadcasting the new rule change as drivers approached one of the town's intersections that gets the busiest during rush hours. Leonia Police Chief Thomas Rowe said Monday that the morning commute already seemed a little less hectic than it usually does, when streams of cars take to local roads in an attempt to evade bridge traffic.

Rowe said he wants to make implementing the new rule as "fair" as possible. The town will assess driver familiarity with the new rule after the first two weeks pass, he said.

Rowe said he scheduled additional officers to work at short-cut hot spots Monday, directing traffic and explaining the new rule to commuters. It seemed, he said, that most motorists trying to drive on at least one of the newly-restricted roads lived or worked in town

Officers who speak multiple languages were also on hand Monday morning to talk to motorists.

Police officers can distinguish residents from non-residents (and employees who work in town) by a yellow tag hanging in the car's rearview mirror. Those allowed to drive on all town roads can apply for the tags in a variety of ways, including by mail or by visiting the borough hall, officials said.

Some have questioned the legality of the town's new rule. But, the town's mayor has said the legality of the ordinance was "thoroughly" researched. Many drivers at one of the town's busiest intersections did not object when they were pulled over and asked to give a reason to drive on the roads.

Leonia officials are working with navigational apps, such as Waze and Google Maps, to show the new road closures to commuters. The apps have habitually re-routed drivers onto the town's side streets so the motorists can beat traffic on major highways leading up to the bridge.

But, the re-routed drivers have been known to clog up residential streets so much so that people who live in Leonia reportedly can't get out of their own driveways. Officials say the influx in traffic also poses a danger to EMS workers who can't get through during rush hour.

The town has installed permanent signs at the entrance to the roads it will close to non-residents during rush hours. Officials have said that exemptions to the rule would include workers delivering mail or food, reporters chasing a fire, or out of town relatives visiting family members. Essentially, officials have said, drivers who can prove they have business in the town can use the side streets.

Leonia's police force, made up of only 18 officers, will still be prioritizing public safety, the town's mayor said on Monday. But, after the two weeks is up, drivers who don't have the tag to drive on the town's roads will face a $200 fine. Drivers who are pulled over will be fined and asked to turn around, if feasible, the town's police chief said.

Taking a short cut to the GWB? Not today, unless you live or work in this town
Reviewed by free heip
on
January 23, 2018
Rating: 5